N.Y. man sentenced to three years

A New York City man awaiting trial on two assault charges was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for violation of probation on unrelated drug distribution convictions.

"I hope you don't hold those new charges against me," said Robert Anthony Crosby, as he appeared before Washington County Circuit Judge John H. McDowell.

The judge assured Crosby, 20, that his current charges weren't a factor in his decision Tuesday.

"Your probation and parole agent says she's never even met you," McDowell said, noting that Crosby had failed to report to that agent since last October, a month after he was released after serving time for the drug convictions.

Advertisement

On Jan. 18, police raided a room at the Motel 6 in Halfway and arrested Crosby in the October shooting of a 16-year-old girl and a September assault and robbery in Hancock.

The charges against Crosby stem from an Oct. 24 shooting that injured a teenage girl in the 400 block of North Potomac Street. The teenager was hit in the upper left leg by one of seven shots fired through the door of an apartment, police said.

Two men began beating on the front door of Apt. 8 at 441 N. Potomac St. and attempted to kick it down, according to police.

Crosby, who also is known as "Special" or "Eric," was charged with attempted second-degree murder, four counts of first-degree assault, four counts of second-degree assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, use of a handgun in commission of a felony, wearing or carrying a handgun and discharge of a firearm within city limits.

He is charged in a Maryland State Police warrant with three counts of first-degree assault, three counts of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, robbery, theft and use of handgun in commission of a felony.

Those charges stem from a Sept. 25 incident in Hancock, police said.

The crimes occurred when a Cumberland, Md., woman met a man at the Hardee's restaurant in Hancock to discuss a drug transaction and then followed him to the intersection of McKinley Drive and Tollgate Ridge Road, police said.

The man told the woman he was looking for the "stash" and struck her in the head with a handgun, police said.

He then pointed a semiautomatic pistol at two men who were sitting in the woman's car and demanded the keys to the vehicle.

Before driving away with two women who were in his car, the man stole about $500 from the victim, police said.